Little Miss Ecosaver 2017!

Althea with her trophy as
2nd Place winner Little Ms. Ecosaver 2017,
March 3, 2017 (Friday)
Navotas Elementary School 1, Navotas City. 

It was always every girls dream to join a beauty contest and won the title.
And many of them like my daughter is really following this trail.

I must say, that joining a pageant similar to the recent one was not her first time.
Prior to the Ecosaver contest she joined and luckily won the title of "Mini-Me, a look-alike," pageant in the same school way back 2015.

Althea also got to ramp like a real model year 2014 when she was chosen to model a summer outfit of one popular kid brand in Shangri-la Plaza in Mandaluyong.

You might began to wonder how come Althea chooses this kind of path?
Althea's influences actually began when she recognizes "Barbie."
She watches every film about it, and began imitating and dreaming to become a successful one like her idol.
Like "Barbie," Althea can sing and can dance. But I and her mom believed that this was really a God-given talent for her that was enhanced as year goes by.


THE STORY BEHIND HER PARTICIPATION

Aside from her teacher's idea that they want Althea to represent their section's level...the remaining many more percentage of encouragement was really coming from us plus more to Althea herself.

We talked about it many times at home that if ever we will join that means our "TIME," and our "MONEY," will be put to it.

But since, we have seen how willing Althea was at the time...we let her participate.
And we also think as parents that pageant will give her the very opportunity to open her knowledge more on it, for experience purposes.

But really, it was her very hard working Mom (my wife Meanne), who's been with her all-the time.
And that is not just "figuratively," speaking but meant "literally."

From material research for her costume, scouting where to find it, traveling here and there, looking for a tailoring shop, personally designing her dress, accessorizing it, everything from hair down to the shoes Althea will be wearing for the pageant.

My wife even stayed late many nights sometimes until 5 in the morning fixing and preparing anything and everything Althea's needs before the pageant approaches.
So, I really salute and admire my wife for all her hard work.

While on the other side, Althea practiced her song piece over and over again.
But even at the time you see her really tired...Althea don't give up, she was really determined to finish polishing everything up to the last drop of her energy.
One good trait that I really admire about her.

As the day of the pageant unfolds, Althea surprisingly received two minor awards...
"Miss Ecosaver Photogenic," AND "Best in Modeling!"

We were all very HAPPY about it...that she was able to rose from other contenders.
And even with those awards presented to her...we felt that Althea at the time was a winner.

After that we do not expect anything more...for we know that her standing at "SLAM JUNK," was really far from the rest of the candidates.
The student or candidate who will sell the highest junk will have more edge on winning the contest.

But come the announcement of the major awards Althea's name were called as "3rd Place!"

We were all happy at the time, but wait there's more after a few more minutes a special announcement was made again.
But this time, telling everyone especially candidates that there was a mistake in the announcement of runners-up.

With Althea in her so called "mistakenly," 3rd Place winner

Eventually Althea hold the title of "2nd Place for Little Ms Ecosaver 2017," and that for all of us was a real blessing from God.

Althea with other candidates winners of major awards, Little Mr. and Ms. Ecosaver 2017

We would like to thank her beloved teacher Mam Dueñas for supporting Althea and of course her classmates as well. Along with her former teacher Mam Dianne.

Althea with Mam Dueñas and Mam Dianne

With Althea's Grade 2 Diamond Classmates in their wackier posing 

More of them with Althea

We concluded that joining wasn't easy,
we told Althea not to join anymore. And that give her other classmates a chance to also showcase their talents.
But let's see, because when she's happy...the set rules and earlier agreements will be forgotten.

Again, Congratulations Althea!

To God Be The Glory.

--------------------
The pagent took place March 3, 2017 Friday, at Navotas Elementary School 1, Navotas City. Philippines.

Ang kuwento ni Filemon Mamon sa paglalahad ni Althea

Agosto na naman...ibig sabihin buwan na naman ng wika.
Sa mga paaralan saan mang bahagi ng Pilipinas...hindi mawawala ang talumpatian.
Pinalad na mapili si Althea, ang aming panganay na anak upang magbasa ng isang maikling kuwento.

Sa naturang patimpalak, tiningnan kung mahusay siyang makapagbabasa, at papakinggan ng mga mga magaaral na nanonood at higit lalo't sa mga huradong guro.

Hindi ito ang unang beses ni Althea sa paglahok sa mga paligsahan. Ngunit noong nakaraang taon, nakasali at nanalo ito sa isang tula.

Ngayon nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na magbasa ng kuwento tungkol sa isang matabang bata na ang pangalan ay si "Filemon Mamon."

Bilang paghahanda para sa kumpetisyon, ilang araw din siyang nagsanay. Bukod ang ginagawang pagsasanay niya sa eskwelahan kasama ang kanyang guro at maging sa aming tahanan kapiling naman ang kanyang ina.
Nagkaroon din naman ako ng pagkakataon na marinig ang kanyang pagbabasa, at nagbigay din ng ilang suhestyon kung pano higit na mapabubuti pa ito.

Tinuruan namin siya ng tamang pagbaybay at pagbigkas ng mga salita, kasama rin ang ilang mga kaaya-ayang galaw upang aliwin at makuha ang atensyon ng mga manonood na magaaral at mga huradong guro.

Hindi gaya ng mga nagdaang patimpalak, walang malaking manonood na nakinig. Ginawa lamang kasi ito sa isang klasrom.
Medyo iba ngayon, hindi lamang galing sa iisang baytang ang mga magtutunggalian, sa madaling salita, makakalaban rin niya ang iba pang mga magaaral sa ikatlo at ikaapat na baytang ng naturang eskwelahan.

Naging basehan ng mga hurado ang mga sumusunod sa pagpili ng magwawagi...

Mga Pamantayan sa Pagkukuwento

Paraan ng Pagkukuwento 35%
Kalidad ng tinig 25%
Pagbibigay kahulugan 30%
Dating sa madla 10%
Kabuuan 100%

Sa kabuuan, may siyam na kalahok na nagtunggalian.
May mga kani-kaniyang paraan ng pagku-kuwento.
May mahina at halos hindi marinig ang boses, may ubod ng lakas, mayroon ding isinama ang mga manonood sa pagkukuwento, ang iba nama'y kinabisado ang buong kuwento, may umawit din at sumayaw upang makuha ang atensyon ng mga hurado at nakikinig.

Bagama't may iba't-iba silang istilo, si Althea naman ay gumamit ng mga visual aids sa kanyang kuwento gaya ng larawan ni Santa Klaus, Andres Bonifacio, Prayle, mga ulam na gaya ng adobo at lechong paksiw, mga junk food at softdrinks at siyempre ang bida sa kuwento na si ..."Filemon Mamon!"

Siyempre, bukod sa mga guro na nagorganisa ng patimpalak, naroon din ang mga magulang na todo ang suporta sa kanilang mga anak.

Pero papahuli ba naman kami, kami ang ilan sa mga magulang ng mga batang naniniwala na ang presensiya namin sa naturang tunggalian ay makakatulong ng malaki upang palakasin ang loob ng aming anak.

Matapos marinig ang lahat ng mga magaaral, dumating na ang paghahatol.
Nakakatutuwa na pinalad na makuha ng aming anak na si Althea ang ikatlong puwesto, samantalang nagwagi naman ang isang katunggali na galing sa ikaapat na baytang, at ang pangalawang puwesto ay nakuha naman ng ikatlong baytang na magaaral.
Bagama't nalungkot si Althea na hindi nito nakuha ang unang parangal, sinabi na lang namin na mayroon pa namang susunod.
Hindi kasi nito maitago ang pakiramdam na sa mga nagdaang sinalihang kumpetisyon lagi nitong inuuwi ang unang parangal.

Pero bilang magulang naunawaan din namin siya.
Ang sa amin din kasi, marahil mas mainam kung magkakaparehong baytang ang nagtunggalian sa pagbabasa ng kuwento.
Dahil sa totoo lamang po, tunay na makakakuha ng lamang o puntos ang lalaban na nasa mataas na baytang dahil sa edad nito at lawak na rin ng karanasan sa pagsali sa mga labanan.

Ngunit, salamat pa rin at nakuha nito ang ikatlong puwesto at malaki ang aming pasasalamat sa kanyang guro na si Mam Edelyn Dueñas na nagturo at nagbigay ng suporta sa kanya hanggang sa huli.

"Natutuwa kami sa iyong tagumpay Althea...ang mahalaga may bago ka na namang karanasan na magagamit mo sa susunod mong haharaping laban.

Kami ng iyong ina na si Meanne ay tunay na maligaya sa iyong tagumpay.
Muli, ang aming masayang pagbati!"